Dear Ethan,
As you approach the grand age of 15, I can only imagine the whirlwind of thoughts racing through your mind. You can always come to me with any questions—my commitment to honesty is unwavering, and my love for you is boundless. I will always stand by you.
Sometimes, I think I might underestimate you, my courageous son. Today, I ventured into your room to tidy up a bit, believing that a single grocery bag would suffice to collect all your empty water bottles. Oh, how wrong I was!
Your talent for consuming water and then hoarding the bottles is truly remarkable—almost as if you’re plotting to construct a raft and navigate the Colorado River in search of better bottled water from some other family.
And then there’s your unique skill of placing items next to their designated spots instead of actually putting them away. I’ve bought you storage containers and organizers to make it easy for you to find what you need—especially those mornings when you’re frantically searching for that favorite comic book tee or a matching sock. Yet, we’re left with piles of clothes in disarray. Oh, my sweet boy, this is precisely why some creatures eat their young—though I suspect you’re mostly just bottled water and would provide little nourishment for me!
I’m also puzzled. I distinctly remember establishing a household rule against sticky and sugary beverages in the bedrooms to keep ants at bay. Yet, I find you have an impressive collection of these drinks. Were you perhaps saving them for a future project? I can’t quite comprehend why you’d pour bottled water into other vessels.
We should consider dedicating a weekend to clearing out some of your childhood belongings. It’s hard to believe my “baby” has hair on his chest now, and you’ve surely outgrown the tiny guitar and playschool art supplies that seem to linger in your room.
Thank you for holding onto that little anime drawing I made for you; it means a lot to me. You are truly the light of my life. Even if your messiness drives me to the brink, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
Just know, I love being your mom, but I may soon replace your mattress with all those empty water bottles. Also, please stop using the good towels!
With all my love,
Mom